overwhelms the ability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overwhelms the ability" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is too much for someone's capacity to handle or manage. Example: "The sheer volume of work during the project deadline overwhelms the ability of the team to deliver quality results."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The alliance of governments and big corporations simply overwhelms the ability of elected assemblies to hold them to account.

The Guardian - Opinion

Future studies will be needed to identify the break point where the osmolality overwhelms the ability of the proximal intestine to compensate.

American Journal of Gastroenterology

At values of R ≥ 2.0, the intensity of transmission effectively overwhelms the ability of the vaccine to protect indirectly, given the greater level of exposure to infection.

American Journal of Epidemiology

Alternatively, if DLK-1 or a DLK-1 activator is being sequestered, then perhaps a build-up of these stores over time overwhelms the ability of RPM-1 to keep DLK-1 levels low.

eLife

We conclude that, in CpG-dense promoters with high levels of methylation, the large absolute number of methyl groups overwhelms the ability of the drug to demethylate sufficiently to allow increased expression.

BMC Medical Genomics

We hypothesised that high-level expression of multiple cytokines, many of which have a role in angiogenesis, overwhelms the ability of sorafenib to adequately block tumour angiogenesis and growth.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The scale of the banks' bad debts overwhelmed the ability of the Irish state to meet its promise.

The Economist

The complexity and sheer volume of information threaten to overwhelm the ability of traditional cell biologists to grasp its implications and develop experimentally testable hypotheses.

Trends in Cell Biology

Information about the victims trickled out slowly, partly because the proportions of the events seemed to overwhelm the ability of all systems to cope.

The New York Times

Their explosive popularity has overwhelmed the ability, particularly in big cities, for systems to quickly download maps, video games and movies.

The New York Times

In some countries that could overwhelm the ability of the central bank to support the financial system.Another weak point is where shareholders take fright.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "overwhelms the ability", ensure that the subject performing the action is clearly defined. This clarifies what is causing the ability to be overwhelmed.

Common error

Avoid using a plural subject with the singular verb "overwhelms". The verb should agree with the subject, so ensure you're using "overwhelm" with plural subjects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overwhelms the ability" functions as a predicate in a sentence, typically describing a subject's effect on a particular capacity. Ludwig provides examples where large amounts of information or events surpass the limit of what can be managed or processed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "overwhelms the ability" is grammatically correct and serves to describe a situation where a capacity is exceeded, as confirmed by Ludwig. While not exceptionally common, the phrase is versatile, appearing in contexts ranging from News & Media to scientific literature. The expert rating is high, due to the phrase's correct grammatical structure and consistent usage across reputable sources. When using this phrase, ensure the subject-verb agreement is correct and the context is clear to enhance effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overwhelms the capability

A direct synonym, replacing “ability” with “capability”.

exceeds the capacity

Focuses on the limit being surpassed, instead of the act of overwhelming.

surpasses the capability

Highlights exceeding a defined level of competence or skill.

overtaxes the capacity

Emphasizes the strain or burden placed on the ability.

overstrains the capacity

Highlights the stress or pressure on a system's limits.

exceeds the power

Indicates a limit of strength or control being surpassed.

overwhelms the resources

Focuses on a lack of resources to cope with a situation.

exceeds the resources

Similar to the previous point, but replaces "overwhelms" with "exceeds".

overwhelms the system

Highlights the inability of a system to deal with a situation.

cripples the ability

Emphasizes the act of harming or disabling the capacity to do something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "overwhelms the ability" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "exceeds the capacity" or "surpasses the capability". These options provide a more sophisticated way to express the idea of exceeding a limit.

What does it mean when something "overwhelms the ability"?

It means that something exceeds the capacity or power to handle or manage a situation, task, or resource effectively. It indicates a limit has been reached or surpassed.

Is there a difference between saying "overwhelms the ability" and "exceeds the ability"?

While similar, "exceeds the ability" often implies a measurable limit being surpassed. "Overwhelms the ability" suggests a more profound sense of being incapable of coping with the situation.

Can "overwhelms the ability" be used in different contexts?

Yes, "overwhelms the ability" is versatile and can be used in various contexts, from describing physical limitations to system failures. For example, "The flood overwhelmed the city's ability to cope", or, "The data overwhelmed the computer's ability to process it".